Implicit-particle simulation of magnetized plasmas

Abstract

A second-order accurate, direct method for the simulation of magnetized, multi-dimensional plasmas is developed. A time decentered particle push is combined with the direct method for implicit plasma simulation to include finite sized particle effects in an absolutely stable algorithm. A simple iteration (renormalized Poisson equation) is used to solve the field corrector equation. Details of the two-dimensional, electrostatic, constant magnetic field, periodic case are given. Numerical results for ion-acoustic fluctuations and for an unstable gravitational interchange confirm the accuracy and efficacy of the method applied to low-frequency plasma phenomena.